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Only an hour remained until dawn.
The destructive energy fluctuations of the Golden Crow Annihilating Calamity Formation rippled on the walls of Ziluo City.
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The army of evil spirits that had invaded the city was gone; Moonlit Shadow’s sword light had reduced them to nothingness.
Outside the city, countless evil spirits still charged toward the city, but they were like dragons without a leader; they weren’t much of a threat. Before they even got close, the Golden Crow Annihilating Calamity Formation destroyed them.
Atop the eastern gate.
The gaunt old man, Tianji Yao Empress, and the man in Confucian robes watched the scene unfolding at the Bureau of Adjudication, their expressions incomparably complicated.
Although they couldn’t make out the details, all three of the old monsters were well aware that a terrifying evil spirit of legend, the Dark Vassal, had been slain!
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow, Sinful Ghost Monk, and Child of Sin wouldn’t escape disaster either!
“All of it happened in a flash. This was a calamity sufficient to destroy the Cui Family and overturn Ziluo Family… but he neutralized it just like that…” muttered the man in Confucian robes.
“Wasn’t this inevitable?” the Tianji Yao Empress said softly.
When Old Monster Su took action, what problem couldn’t he resolve?
“I finally understand why Old Monster Su abandoned the eastern gates. He was obviously trying to lure all his enemies into one place so he could take them all out at once!” sighed the thin old man.
His two companions nodded.
Had Old Monter Su attacked as soon as the Dark Vassal appeared, he would have alarmed the Emperors of various hostile factions, sending them packing.
Instead, he lured them into a city, inviting them to their doom. His abilities were more than enough to wipe the whole group out.
What they’d just witnessed was clear proof of that.
“Alas, we no longer have any hope of escaping confinement…” the man in Confucian robes sighed bitterly.
This hit the thin old man and the Tianji Yao Empress right where it hurt. Both of their expressions shifted back and forth.
“No matter what, you helped out tonight. When Cui Longxiang gets back, he might consider reducing your sentences,” a calm, indifferent voice interjected.
One sentence, and all three of them shook. A moment later, they got their emotions back under control. All three of them looked into the distance.
There, they saw Su Yi’s tall, upright figure walking through the skies. He was headed right toward them.
To the old monsters’ surprise, the aura emanating from Su Yi was nowhere near as intimidating as it had been moments prior. It still displayed the characteristics of the Spiritual Revolution Realm.
But although the old monsters found this strange, none of them dared so much as consider disobeying.
No one wanted to test Su Yi’s true cultivation boundary for themselves.
“Even just hearing that, we’re already overcome with gratitude,” said the thin old man with a bow.
The Tianji Yao Empress and man in Confucian robes were like mice facing a cat. Both were as respectful as could be.
Su Yi took out the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern and gestured to it. “There’s nothing left for you to do. Go in.”
“Got it!” None of them dared disobey. The Tianji Yao Empress and man in Confucian robes blurred into streaks of light, then shot into the lantern.
However, the gaunt old man hesitated. “Your Excellency Su, tonight, the Dark Vassal made an appearance. Does that mean that the legendary ruler of the Netherworld, the Netherworld King… still lives?”
According to legend, the Dark Vassals were the attendants of the Netherworld King!
And the Netherworld King was an incredibly terrifying existence. Rumor had it that he’d ruled over the darkness of the Netherworld, intimidating everything beneath the heavens!
Su Yi glanced at the gaunt old man. “If he’s alive, why is it that he hasn’t shown himself even once in all this time?”
The thin old man thought it over. “Most likely, it’s due to his situation. Perhaps he’s imprisoned and unable to escape, or perhaps he’s severely injured and yet to recover.”
“In that case, so what if he’s still alive?” Su Yi said coolly. “How much a threat do you think he’d be?”
“Er…” The thin old man was instantly at a loss for words.
He could tell that the legendary expert before him wasn’t the least bit concerned about the Netherworld King!
The thin old man took a deep breath. “Your Excellency Su, this old man has an unreasonable request. Could you perhaps…”
“Old Reptile,” interrupted Su Yi, “even you know it's an unreasonable request, so don’t bother. Don’t think I’ll treat you with benevolence just because you helped me tonight. You’re overstepping your bounds. Don’t think too highly of yourself. Understood?”
The old man’s expression shifted. Finally, he said in a low voice, “I understand.”
With that, he blurred into a streak of light and shot into the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern.
It was then that Cui Chang’an rushed over from afar.
He was accompanied by Fei Kongdong and Fei Yanzhi.
“Uncle Su.” Cui Chang’an stepped forward and greeted him.
Fei Kongdong hurriedly stepped up and bowed in gratitude. “Your Excellency Su, many thanks for showing mercy and sparing my niece’s life!”
“Your Excellency Su, thank you for your benevolence!” The severely injured Fei Yanzhi bowed as well.
This Profound Serenity Empress of the Denglong Race had obviously already learned who Su Yi was. Facing him now, her expression was full of indescribable unease and awe.
Su Yi said calmly, “I can forgo the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. From this day forth, you’ll pay for your crimes in the dungeons of the Bureau of Adjudication. Cui Longxiang will decide your fate when he returns.”
Fei Yanzhi felt as if she’d been struck by lightning, and she stood there in a daze.
Fei Kongdong took a deep breath and rebuked her. “You opposed His Excellency Su and lived. That’s enormously fortunate already. Yanzhi, why haven’t you thanked him yet?”
Fei Yanzhi shook from head to toe, lowered her head, and said bitterly, “Many thanks for your benevolence, Your Excellency Su!”
Su Yi wasted no more time talking. He simply sealed both Fei Kongdong and Fei Yanzhi within the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern.
He wouldn’t take pity on his enemies.
Even if they lowered their head and admitted defeat, they still had to pay for what they’d done.
“Don’t tell anyone about my involvement in what happened tonight,” Su Yi said to Cui Chang’an.
Cui Chang’an froze, then laughed bitterly. “Uncle Su, my clansmen saw the entire battle. I’m afraid… I won’t be able to keep this under wraps.”
Su Yi laughed. “Stupid. In others’ eyes, are my past life and my current self the same person?”
With that, he turned and left.
He’d already quelled tonight’s upheaval.
However, Su Yi was neither happy nor sad. It meant little to him, and he felt no real sense of accomplishment.
At the end of the day, he’d defeated his enemies tonight by borrowing the cultivation base of his past life.
This wasn’t much different from borrowing external power.
It was only after Su Yi faded from view that Cui Chang’an understood.
“He’s right! Who else knows that Uncle Su has already reincarnated? All I have to do is pin this on his past self. Especially since everyone who saw his features clearly earlier has already either died or been imprisoned…”
……
That very night, the experts of the Cui Family left to secure the eastern gate.
When dawn arrived, the endless horde of evil spirits retreated. The Cui Family felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders, and their spirits soared.
All of them knew that this crisis had already been averted. The darkest night they’d faced thus far was finally over.
And the Cui Family had overcome this disaster, surviving to welcome the light of a new dawn!
“We won! Hahaha! We won!” Some of them threw back their heads and laughed, dancing with joy.
“Although Ziluo City is severely damaged, the Cui Family didn’t suffer even a single casualty! Who could believe such a thing?” Others shouted in excitement.
“This is an unprecedented victory! We didn’t just rout the army of evil spirits; we even wiped out the Emperors of those hostile factions!”
“Tonight’s incident is sure to shake the world. The enemies of the Cui Family had best hurry up and plan their funerals!”
“We naturally can’t let this end here. They must pay for what they’ve done!”
Amidst the clamor of voices, someone suddenly asked, “Family Head, just who was that senior who alleviated our family’s crisis?”
One sentence, and all eyes were on Cui Chang’an.
All of them knew that the Cui Family had only survived without casualties thanks to that mysterious expert who’d descended into their midst like a god or immortal.
It was no exaggeration to say that he’d singlehandedly saved them from an unprecedented calamity!
Besides, earlier, they’d watched from within the defensive formation as that mysterious expert slaughtered a whole group of Emperors!
Of course they were curious about who he was. How could they not be?
Except for Xue Huaning, who looked a bit ill at ease.
She naturally knew just who that mysterious person was, but she also knew that they couldn’t just reveal his identity.
However, to her surprise, Cui Chang’an just said calmly, “It seems to me that you already know the answer. Have you ever seen anyone else in the Netherworld with such attainments in the Dao of the Sword? Who else could have achieved that?”
The entire area fell silent.
Quite a few of them had already guessed something, and their expressions filled with disbelief and astonishment.
“Don’t tell me… was it really… was it really His Excellency Su?” One of the old-timers stammered, his voice quavering.
Cui Chang’an nodded. It was a simple gesture, but the entire area instantly exploded into uproar, like a pot boiling over.
Even the old-timers, despite their countless years of light, lost themselves in their excitement.
It really was the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force!!!
Even though they’d picked up on the clues and guessed this answer, they still dared not believe it.
But now, Cui Chang’an had confirmed it. Who wouldn’t have been shocked? Who wouldn’t have been excited?
“Family Head, where is His Excellency Su? We have to thank him in person!” said one of the Cui clansmen.
However, Cui Chang’an sighed. “Everyone, the one who intervened earlier was merely a portion of Uncle Su’s power he left with the Cui Family.”
He then told them about the Dao-Bearing Stone embedded in the hilt of Moonlit Shadow.
Quite a few of the Cui Family’s old-timers had known about this. Now, they finally understood.
However, this answer filled their hearts with deep despondency.
That legendary expert hadn’t returned after all. It was just a portion of power he’d left with the Cui Family….
Sighs rang out. Everyone was somber.
Except for Cui Chang’an and Xue Huaning, who looked at each other and relaxed.
They’d successfully muddled their way through!